Code gets slower and slower

Question

Hi

I'm new to phyton and need to convert a bunch of dababase files to shapefiles. I have a batch processing code which is working fine. However, after a while it gets incredibly slow and takes more than an hour for something it took only 10 minutes at the start. I guess that it's somehow a memory - related problem.

Anybody an idea how to clear memory or otherwise fasten the program?

Here is the code:
import arcpy
from arcpy import env
import os

# Set the workspace for the ListFiles function
env.workspace = "g:/CAPAS_Data/N50/"
# Use the ListFile function to return a list
ListDatabase = arcpy.ListFiles("*.mdb")
# print ListDatabase
for x in ListDatabase: 
     env.workspace = "g:/CAPAS_Data/N50/"+x
     
     ListDatasets = arcpy.ListDatasets()

for y in ListDatasets: 
          env.workspace = "g:/CAPAS_Data/N50/"+x+"/"+y
          ListClasses = arcpy.ListFeatureClasses()

for z in ListClasses:
               inFeature = 
               inFeature_str = str(inFeature)
               outLocation= "g:/CAPAS_Data/shapefiles/"+inFeature_str[3:-2]+"/"

if not os.path.exists(outLocation):
                    os.makedirs(outLocation)
                    
               arcpy.FeatureClassToShapefile_conversion(inFeature, outLocation)

Thanks for any help!
Corinne

CorinneFrey · Answer

Thanks for the answers.

I'm running Phyton from the ArcGIS installation.

I got the access files from somebody else and I don't have influence on their size.

I'll try to improve the code now, thanks for you help!

Cheers,
Corinne

MathewCoyle · Answer

Since you're accessing personal geodatabases, you will want to keep your eye on the size of the MDB files, and run a Compact and Repair in Access if they start growing too large.

Whenever I am dealing with PGDB I throw a Compact in at the end of the script to clean it up again. I remember it solved some issues for me at one time and I do it just out of habit now.

Also, I'd recommend putting everything in a function to help deal with persisting variables.

BruceNielsen · Answer

Since you're accessing personal geodatabases, you will want to keep your eye on the size of the MDB files, and run a Compact and Repair in Access if they start growing too large.